Corporates pay to beautify Hyderabad, will pick tab to keep it that way

Hyderabad: In 2012, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) spent about Rs 70 lakh on the beautification of the city in preparation for the Conference of Parties (CoP-11) Summit. This time, it has adopted a different strategy. The civic body is asking private companies from the West Zone to volunteer funds as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to prepare for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES-2017).

According to officials of the GHMC, nearly Rs 1 crore has been collected so far; the funds will be used for the beautification of the city. “The money that we have accumulated is being used for painting, electric work and the enhancement of greenery. Around Rs 25 lakh has been budgeted for electric works,” said a GHMC official.

Artists who are painting the Hitec City Flyover are being sponsored by the Kalakriti Art Gallery; the GHMC will pay for the paints and brushes used. Sculp-tures, which are being sponsored by Stone Craft and ITC, will be set up at various locations in the city. The civic body is in conversation with other private firms to encourage them to make contributions towards the em-bellishment of the city.

Companies such as Synchrony Financial, Real Page, JRC International and Colruyt Consultancy have assumed responsibility for the maintenance of greenery even after the summit. Companies such as Biological E Limited, the Aparna Group, DLF Limited and the Aditya Group have contributed about Rs 15 lakh each. Shah Ghouse, Godavari Homes and @home have also volunteered to beautify the city.